The Inquisition: Full Circle

500 years after being forced to abandon Judaism, some descendents are starting to return.

Queen Isabella of Spain must be turning over in her grave. Five centuries after the Spanish despot sought to erase all vestiges of Jewish life on the Iberian Peninsula, a growing number of her victims' descendants are now emerging from the shadows, seeking to reclaim their long-lost heritage.

One such person is Nuria Guasch Vidal, whose ancestors were forcibly converted to Catholicism in Spain. At great personal risk, her forefathers secretly preserved their cherished, yet hidden, Jewish identity, handing it down from one generation to the next, clandestinely defying the Spanish Inquisition and its henchmen. As a child growing up outside Barcelona, Nuria never did quite understand why her family did not celebrate Christmas or go to church like their neighbors, or why every Friday evening they would set an elaborate table for dinner and proceed to dip the bread in salt before the meal.

It was only when her 88-year-old grandfather lay on his deathbed and pulled Nuria aside that she began to learn the truth about her family and her past.

After firmly instructing her not to allow a priest in the room once he passed away, Nuria's grandfather cryptically said, "I want you to reflect on your heritage and think for yourself. And then you will find the answer to all those questions you have been asking. It is your duty to return."

For Nuria, those words had a profound impact on her life, propelling her on a mission of self-discovery. Her research and persistent questioning of other relatives left little room for doubt: her forefathers had been Jews. And were it not for the persecution they had faced at the hands of the Inquisition, that is what they would have remained.

Who knows what suffering and trauma they had been forced to endure, living publicly as Catholics but secretly as Jews, surrounded by hostility, antagonism and outright hatred? From the records of the Inquisition, we know that its practitioners employed an array of tools designed to ferret out and quash any remaining Jewish embers in Spain.

Torture and public executions were imposed on anyone suspected of 'relapsing' to Judaism.

Torture, informants, denunciations and public executions were part and parcel of the reign of terror they imposed on anyone suspected of "relapsing" to Judaism.

According to historian Cecil Roth, over 30,000 so-called Judaizers were put to death by the Inquisitorial zealots in Spain and Portugal, many of them burned alive at the stake in front of cheering crowds of onlookers, while hundreds of thousands of others were tried and convicted by its courts for following Jewish practices.

Most people probably don't realize it, but the Inquisition continued functioning for centuries, hunting down "secret Jews" as far afield as Angola and South America. It was only in the 19th century that the persecutions were formally stopped.

"Since history began, perhaps," writes Roth in his seminal work, A History of the Marranos, "in no spot on the earth's surface has so systematic and so protracted a persecution ever been perpetrated for so innocent a cause."

This past Sunday, however, the sad and tragic journey of Nuria's forebearers finally came to a happy end. Together with her husband Edward, Nuria underwent conversion before a rabbinical court in Jerusalem, which formally welcomed them back to the people of Israel.

Welcome Back

What Ferdinand and Isabella, Spain's 15th century monarchs, had sought to demolish through Inquisition and expulsion, Nuria was determined to bring back to life. Her return to Judaism was the culmination of a spiritual quest, one that led her and her husband to study with an Orthodox rabbi in Barcelona who embraced them and received them with warmth and understanding.

Slowly but surely they made Judaism the focal point of their lives, adopting the rituals and lifestyle of traditional Jews. They now attend synagogue regularly, observe Shabbat and keep kosher. Nuria has even organized a local group of activists, who took upon themselves the thankless task of defending Israel's good name in the local Spanish media, where the Jewish state comes under frequent, and rather fierce, attack from its critics.

After the rabbinical court judges accepted them, Nuria decided to become "Nurit," and Edward fittingly took the name of "Yitzhak," after the patriarch who was nearly sacrificed on the altar, only to be saved at the last minute by Divine intervention.

I did it, grandpa. I have returned. I am a Jew.

When I saw Nurit the following day, she was at the Western Wall, her eyes filled with tears. The first thing she had done, she told me, when she approached the ancient relic of the Holy Temple, was to touch its stones. She then cast her eyes heavenwards, and addressed her grandfather: "I did it, grandpa. I have returned. I am a Jew."

Hearing this story, I was overcome with emotion. What greater testament could there be to the power of the Jewish soul, to the eternal and unbreakable spirit of the pintele Yid, the Jewish spark that can never be extinguished? Across Spain and the rest of the Spanish-speaking world, there are untold thousands, possibly more, who still carry this spark within them, longing to return to their people, to come home again to the faith and beliefs that were so cruelly torn away from them over the centuries.

The Jewish people owe it to them and to their ancestors to recognize the anguish and suffering they have endured and to facilitate their return. The descendants of the Anousim (Hebrew for "those who were coerced") are grappling with profound issues of identity, history and faith. They should not have to do so on their own.

Specifically, there are a number of steps that can and should be taken to help them, including publishing more material on Jewish topics in Spanish, opening small and accessible Jewish libraries throughout Spain, and raising awareness about them among rabbis and communal leaders to ease their reintegration into the Jewish community.

Israel should also consider establishing a national memorial to the victims of the Inquisition, and it should press the Spanish government to do the same. This would be a highly symbolic, though important, measure, one which would both educate future generations about the trauma of the Inquisition, and confer upon its victims the recognition they justly deserve.

At a time when so many young Jews are leaving the fold, Israel now has an opportunity to recover countless numbers of its long-lost brethren. From Spain to Brazil to the southwestern United States, the number of Anousim coming out into the open is surging. The time has come to welcome them back home.

Featured at Aish.com:

About the Author

The writer served as deputy communications director in the Prime Minister’s Office under former premier Binyamin Netanyahu. He is the founder and Chairman of Shavei Israel (www.shavei.org), a Jerusalem-based group that facilitates the return of the Bnei Menashe and other “lost Jews” to the Jewish people.

The opinions expressed in the comment section are the personal views of the commenters. Comments are moderated, so please keep it civil.

Visitor Comments: 33

(31)
Ariel,
December 14, 2017 6:41 AM

Happy Ending?

"...the sad and tragic journey of Nuria's forebearers finally came to a happy end. Together with her husband Edward, Nuria underwent conversion before a rabbinical court in Jerusalem..."
Being forced to convert to Judaism when one is already Jewish is not only unnecessary, but also preposterous after considering the fact that anousim were exactly that: "forced to convert" or sometimes (like in my family's case) simply "forced to hide."
There is nothing happy about such a situation. I would suggest the Jewish public in general, and the Jewish religious authorities in particular to read the relevant responsa on that topic so as to become better informed about the real requirements and rights of anousim.

(30)
Anonymous,
September 19, 2013 1:08 AM

Sephardic lastnames

I found out 6 yes ago that my Spanish last names are also Sephardic. I was always told that I was Jewish by "blood", not to eat pork nor shrimp and not to celebrate Christmas nor Easter. That is all I was told. I went to the nearest synagogue & talked to the Rabbi. I started studying Judaism. I converted 4yrs ago & I'm happier than ever. I trully belong w/ the Jewish people. I'm actve in my Jewish comunity. The best of all is that my husband is Jewish too. I feel blessed for having had the opportunity to know what it is to find out that one was robbed of one's heritage. It makes one appreciate Judaism & G-d's promises frm a different perspective. Torah says that G-d will return the exiled ones.

Barbara,
March 19, 2014 3:55 AM

It gets worse when you are placed in a Xtian Family

I knew from birth I wasnt xtian. I was adopted, taught to mistrust Jews and hated going to "church". My father was ok with it, my mother called me an atheist. Being Jewish on my mothers father's side I cant even go "home". Yet the yearning is there , its deep and profound. And I was raised with the hate and became to learn the LOVE. One day maybe us that are lost will be scooped up. Until that day I will pray for all of lost ones.

(29)
Anonymous,
September 16, 2013 6:40 AM

Hashem Bless You

Hashem bless you for the wonderful work you are doing.No doubt the ancestors of these returnees are rejoicing in the Next World.

(28)
Dave Schroeder,
July 30, 2012 1:40 PM

Y-DNA

When I first had my Y-DNA tested I was surprised to be in haplogroup E, which is rare in the Neidersachsen region of northern Germany where my paternal line originated. After much research with my closest Y match, with ancestry from a village 6 miles from my ancestral village of Ostereistedt, we speculate that we descend from a Sephardic with the surname de Cordova. If a modern Sephardic with that surname ever tests, and matches us to a high degree (37 or 67 markers at FTDNA), then that will confirm our theory.

(27)
Lyn Swartz,
October 2, 2011 8:26 PM

Wonderful inspirational article. Please give more info on this period.

After searching bookshops endlessly and in vain, I have now found this. Please tell me where I can find more information on this period. I have history books but the human angle like this one is what I am looking for.

(26)
Anonymous,
August 18, 2010 2:53 AM

How to return without support

For 1500 years there was a vibrant jewish community in Sicily. The jews of Sicily were forced to leave or convert during the inquisition many remained converted and changed their names. I have found that almost every surname in my family has jewish roots, did a genetic test and the results show Sephardic dna. I was always aware of this at a subconscious level, I now know where I belong. How to start? There is no support or even recognition for the jews of southern Italy.

(25)
Anonymous,
July 21, 2010 5:53 AM

a year or two i was trying to find out where in Spain did our forefathers came from. we were told our family descended from spaniards who came in the philippines long time ago. i did some research in the internet and came across spanish surnames like ours, which happened to be listed as that of sephardic jews.
my first objective right now is to establish where in spain did our forfathers came from. other things may follow afterwards....

(24)
Anonymous,
July 20, 2010 2:49 PM

It Wasn't Just Spain & Portugal

The Inquisition took place in Calabria and Sicily as well. Many descendants of Calabrian and Sicilian Jews are returning.

(23)
ORLANDO JIMENEZ,
April 13, 2010 10:07 PM

Shalom from Puerto Rico, overcomed with emotion. Many puertoricans carry the star of David with out knowing that we have Jewish ancestry from the sephardics. No where in the world you'll find so many males named Israel and Abraham even though its a catholic country. We have great love for Israel and its people and pray much for them.

(22)
Annette Lauer,
September 29, 2009 4:00 AM

the inquisition only started in Spain and spread with the expulsion of jews

and the capital of the Spanish colonies was in Lima, Peru, where the building of the Inquisition STILL stands, now as a 'museum' - Lima still has some 2500 jews but ashkenaz, the sephardim presumably 'disappeared' through assimilation but many traditions still remain in the old Peruvian families; many more Spaniards left Peru & settled in the surrounding countries 500 years ago, where today there are many baal t'shuvas - Thank G-d !

(21)
Sérgio Mota,
August 27, 2004 12:00 AM

comments about anusim return

A LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL:
This article made me think about the happiness I would feel if I could return to Judaism. My life would change to become better in all aspects but I do not have any support in my city to return. I live in Porto Alegre, in the south of Brazil and am of anusim origin. My family by my mother´s side always had a jewish behavior with many jewish customs identified by me. I am a retired journalist and would like to tell in an article my family history and its jewish behavior. Thanks a lot haverim and Shabat Shalom! Sérgio Mota

Ariel,
December 14, 2017 6:21 AM

You can return

Dear Sergio,

YOU CAN RETURN!

I discovered 20 years ago about my Jewish Sephardic origin, which finally allowed me to make sense of my identity.

I also did not have any support, had never visited a synagogue or had met a rabbi. Regardless, I taught myself Hebrew, learnt about mitzvot, and began, keeping kosher -alone. God put guides along the way and led me where my soul longed to be...After a lengthy, ardous, and passionate journey I now live an observant Jewish life in Israel.

Let your Jewish soul express itself, no matter what other people say... at the end there is nothing neither you nor them can do to stop it.

(20)
Fred Walker,
August 12, 2004 12:00 AM

Am Yisrael Chai

After reading the story about the Anousim I'm more convinced that Judaism shall never perish from this earth.Hashem will see to it, but we have to help ourselves too.
Mazal tov to all you anousim and may Hashem have only good things in store for you,you deserve it.
Shalom,Shalom.

(19)
Anonymous,
June 15, 2003 12:00 AM

also Jewish

after researching my roots for a passport, i have discovered that i, too am jewish and now a lot of things make sense, although i know very little about Judaism i do feel a sensation of 'coming home'.

(18)
Yakob,
June 10, 2003 12:00 AM

Las llamas de Israel

Among the dispersed of Israel there will always remains a spark, a remnant flame of the Jewish soul. Four years ago I began the study of my ancestral faith, Judaism. My Askenazi Jewish ancestors had for some reason separated themselves two and half centuries ago. I fully expected resistance from my beloved wife , as she'd been raised in "Catholic" Latin America. Interestingly, her own Sefardi ancestry and practices then came into the open. I believe it was this hidden "flame" that drew us toward each other. This spiritual bond we share has strengthed our family and our dedication to Israel.

(17)
Eva Schultz,
June 9, 2003 12:00 AM

HOW WONDERFUL !

That tells it all! How wonderful!

(16)
T. Mitchell,
June 9, 2003 12:00 AM

Other Inquisitions

I wonder how many Jews in Eastern European nations became "make-believe Christians" in order to escape the pograms. My maternal Grandmother's family was among them.

(15)
Anonymous,
June 5, 2003 12:00 AM

excellent article! yes, i agree with conclusion!

It is sad that so many leave (born Jews). Yet, there are those who should be Jews, yet due to history are not. There should be efforts (such as suggested in article) to help integrate them into community.

(14)
Shemuel,
June 5, 2003 12:00 AM

Jews From Mashhad (Iran)

In the city of Mashahad in the center of Iran there were many pogroms and Jew killings over two hundred fifty years a go and then finally all the jews of that region were forced to convert to Islam, These Jews kept their Jews all these years and followed Hallacha in hiding, though they did use only non jewish names. To make sure there community stay jewish they had make sure their children marring each other in a very early age.
This community moved to NewYork about 5o years a go and now live a jewish life.

(13)
Lucas Pereira,
June 5, 2003 12:00 AM

From Netherlands and then to Brazil.

My father´s family were made of jews about four hundred years ago, jews from Netherlands. The family was forced to convert into Christians.

Today I am coming back to my family´s roots. I do want to be a proud Jew and grow up my (future) kids as jews.

Our people is really imortal.

Baruch Hashem!

(12)
betti miner,
June 5, 2003 12:00 AM

Astounding!

Thank you so very much for your beautiful story about Nurit and Yitzhak returning to their Jewish ancestry. Both my husband and I practice Sephardic customs because he speaks Spanish due to studies in the university here in San Francisco. We both chose Judaism 10 years ago and he studied extensively about the Inquisition and about the one in Mexico just 100 short years ago. I was very profoundly moved by Nurit's story. It proved that she had at last come home, I feel that it could have been my story too. I always had a drawing to all things Jewish. I am so greatful to HaShaem that I am home at last. Thank you again.

(11)
Daniel M. Perez,
June 3, 2003 12:00 AM

We are returning

Thanks for the great story. More and more these days I see articles tackling the issue of the Inquisition and the Anusim in mainstream Jewish media. It fill my heart with incredible gladness. I look around in Miami and I think to myself, "How many of you are really one of us?"
I don't know if I any of my ancestors were conversos (still researching), but when I converted, I did it full in the knowledge that my entry into Judaism, if it wasn't reinstating something lost to my family centuries ago, then it was standing in victorius defiance of the Inquisition. The Spanish Empire, Isabella and Ferdinand, and the Inquisition all came and went, but we are still here. Baruch Hashem.

(10)
Anonymous,
June 3, 2003 12:00 AM

I recall a local family in my childhood community with Sephardic roots who had in their possession a very old key. When I asked about it, I was told that it belonged to the house their family had owned in Spain before the Inquisition. I've never forgotten the immediacy of that intimate experience or how I felt at that moment, having touched a tiny piece of living Judaica.

(9)
Tamar,
June 3, 2003 12:00 AM

Hidden Jews in Czech republic

Spain and her colonies are not the only areas where Jews had to hide themselves under a cloak of conversion to Catholicism. My husband's grandmother's family (on his dad's side) did the same thing.

As I spoke w/ her, I found similar family rituals to the ones mention by many "hidden jews": using salt/water baths to take blood out of meat, lighting candles on friday nights, not working/cooking on shabbat, refering to "Old Testament" heros as "saints", refusing to eat pork or shellfish, etc.

There's a list of people w/ my husband's grandmothers and great-grandmother's maiden names who died in the holocaust and yet some in the family refuse to the believe that their family could possibly be jewish.

My grandmother's family had to run away from the Czech republic before she was born (supposedly because they were rich and there were people jealous of their wealth and they were falsely accused of some crime). It is far more likely, based on their last names, that they were "falsely" accused of being Jews.

The sad thing is they hid the jewish origins of their traditions so well from some of their descendents that they even fell into the sin of anti-semitism.

I sometimes teasingly rebuke my father in law for being a "self-loathing jew" but it's really not so funny to have been in denial all those years, to have part of your family history hidden from you. It's not fair.

(8)
Gladys Cano,
June 3, 2003 12:00 AM

Please don't call them marranos

In case you didn't know, marranos means PIGS!!. Pls don't perpetuate this antisemetic name calling, when you do you're contributing with the people who started this all. Would you call the holocust survivors PIGS?? I wouldn't!!
Pleaseee call them Anusim as the author does, if anything that is the "title" they deserve.
Re. The article, it's was a blessing!

(7)
Sheron,
June 3, 2003 12:00 AM

Marvelous reading.

Really touched my heart. I cried. I'm not following Judiasm, but my Grandparents came out of Germany before the 2nd World War, married in London, England and put on their marriage certificate that they were catholic, from then on the fact that they were or one of them was Jewish was kept secret. I'm not a catholic. I am a practising Christian. I feed on the news from Israel. My heart, I believe belongs to the Jews. Thank you for this article.

(6)
Jeffrey Prince,
June 2, 2003 12:00 AM

Truth is stranger than fiction!

Thank you for your beautiful and touching story. Yes, truth is stranger than fiction. I've read previously of this amazing phenonmenon of the descendants of Marranos coming back into the fold. Each person's story is unique. In a sense, these people are also Holocaust survivors of another sort -- a spiritual Holocaust which took away so many hundreds of thousands from their faith. Shame on the Catholic Church for promoting the canonization of Queen Isabella. I recently read in another publication that there's not a Jewish family in Spain without some Jewish ancestors.

(5)
Leah,
June 2, 2003 12:00 AM

Wonderful!

My husband Theo was raised as a Methodist here in the United States, his grandparents having broken off all contact with the Jewish faith during the period between the first and second world war. Recently his mother passed away and we were given a locked box, there was not even a key to it anymore, he and his step father battered it with a sledge hammer until it broke open, inside...pictures, letters, the story of his mother's side of the family tumble out in front of us! Rabbis', and cantors, wonderful, beautiful, strong faces of the past who somehow his grandmother decided were "wrong", it was "dangerous" to be a Jew in Rockport Illinois in 1901 and so she broke away, married out of her faith, traveled to New Jersey and when her child was born raised her as a Methodist. His Mother too married a methodist just as his grandmother had done. For all their lives Theo and Tom thought that it was odd that there was never any mention of ancestors on mother's side of the family, they asked questions but his mother used to say...they don't matter to us, we are Christians, and we shouldn't glorify our ancestors! Theo's older brother Thomas was forced into a seminary and then became a minister and for all the years of his ministry--10 total--he hated what he was. One day he just quit, he said..."I don't know what's wrong with me, I just don't feel it's true!" He died never knowing why he felt so confused. My husband though always had lots of Jewish friends, his mother even punished him for his choice of school friends and girlfriends. Finally in his thirties he found Judaism on his own and embraced it and has become this truly wise, totally wonderful Zodic who knows what his heart tells him is true! But the pain he feels over the hidden truth of his family from his mother's ancestors is large! When we were dating I of course invited him to a Shabbat dinner, he wept, as I sang the blessing over the candles...he asked me that night to marry him and his mother had a fit. He cried when we found the proof of what he had always suspected but never knew to be a fact. His mother loved my cooking...I had a Russian Jew survivor of the camps for a mom...his mother loved lox, potatoe latke, matzah ball soup, the Friday night candles, all of it she said...seemed so familiar...but it took her nearly ten years to fully accept me.
Ah, life with the tragedies that generations bring upon themselves and others. Theo's brother Tom died thinking that he was an abomanation because he couldn't continue in the ministry and he spent twenty years of his life searching for what was in the old steel box hidden in the hope chest in mom's bedroom.
We, Theo and I are going to make Allyah soon, and I am sure that we will both stand at the wall with tears streaming down our faces, but we will be Home at last, something that his brother never got to be!

(4)
Stefan J. Lane,
June 2, 2003 12:00 AM

The Inquisition - Full Circle

I grew up in a family where ridicule of practice was acceptable. As a child, I openly taunted my Grandmother when she lit Shabbat Candles, I sang happy birthday. No one stopped me or or told me I was wrong. Of all the cousins in my generation, and among my three sisters and brother, only my sister Bonnie and I have traditional kosher homes. My sister has a deadlocked marriage. The inquisition is all too often self perpetuating, and voluntarily assumed. My son Sam is five generations removed from Rebbi Shimon ben Shlomo HaLevi of Venitza. Sam is Shimon ben Shlomo Halevi, my own Teshuveh. It was my Grandmother Lily, of blessed memory, that kept my flame alive.

Shlomo ben Mordechai Rofeal Ha Levi a.k.a. Stefan J. Lane

(3)
Freddy Basurco,
June 2, 2003 12:00 AM

I suspect I also have some jewish heritage: my mother´s second surname (in spanish be keep both parents surnames) is Franco, a well established sephardic one. My question is, how far back I have to be related to a jewish person to be considered jewish myself?

Thanks

Freddy Basurco
Tacna, Peru

(2)
Anonymous,
June 2, 2003 12:00 AM

many people are unaware

Many years ago my parents met, in a progessional context, a couple whose last name was "Marranno" who boasted of their "pure untainted Spanish Catholic" background. My father considered telling them that their background may not be as they assumed but refrained.

(1)
Reesa Assaraf,
June 2, 2003 12:00 AM

A very moving article

Last year in Montreal my husband and I while eating in a restaurent struck up a conversation with a couple next to us. They were both doctors and had come from San Antonio, Texas for a very big medical conference. While talking we mentioned that we were Jewish and the excitment in the man's face was incredible. He told us that just recently he had found out that although he was raised as a "good Catholic boy" his father had revealed to him that his family were really Marranos. Now he could understand why they always put stones on top of the gravestones of their deceased relatives. Now it made sense to him why his parents had separate beds. Was it destiny that he should meet us only 2 weeks after he had found out that he was a Marrano? Probably. Makes one wonder how many more are out there. Thank you for a beautiful article.

I’ve been dating a young woman for the past two years and we are starting to think about marriage. The problem is that she is not Jewish. I would want her to convert, but in a way where there would be no doubt about its validity, so that we and our kids don’t have problems later on. How do you recommend that I proceed?

The Aish Rabbi Replies:

I appreciate your desire to do the right thing and proceed in an authentic way.

The process of conversion is challenging and involves a process of a year or two. This benefits the person converting, to ensure he fully appreciates the responsibilities he is taking on.

According to the Code of Jewish Law (Shulchan Aruch), a valid conversion replicates the experience at Mount Sinai of 3,300 years ago, when the Jewish nation accepted the Torah. For your friend to convert, she must:

believe that Judaism is the true religion, not just accept it by default

study what it says in the Torah

commit to observe all the Torah's commandments

Further, a conversion must be motivated for the sincere purpose of getting close to God and His Torah, not for ulterior motives. Thus, your friend would have to embrace Judaism and the Torah for its own sake, not in order to marry you. She should have the exact same desire to convert even with you entirely out of the picture.

If your friend studies Judaism and feels it is right for her, she would then approach an Orthodox conversion court and explain her situation. The court would then decide if it feels she is a sincere candidate for conversion. If yes, she would begin the lengthy process of studying and practicing to become a true convert.

Of course, to have a successful relationship, you will also need a high level of appreciation and commitment to Judaism. Perhaps you could begin your own study program to discover how Torah values enhance our lives and form the bedrock of civilization.

You should endeavor to live near a Jewish community which has adult education programs, rabbis you can consult with, Shabbat hospitality programs, etc.

In 1273 BCE (Jewish year 2488), Moses completed his farewell address to the Jewish people, and God informed Moses that the day of his death was approaching (Deut. 31:14). Amazingly, the anniversary of Moses' completing his teaching coincides with the date in 1482 of the first printing of the standard format used for Jewish Bibles today: vowel signs, accents, translation (Targum), and Rashi commentary.

Lack of gratitude is at the root of discontent. In order to be consistently serene, we must master the attribute of being grateful to the Creator for all His gifts. As the Torah (Deuteronomy 26:11) states, "Rejoice with all the good the Almighty has given you." This does not negate our wanting more. But it does mean that we have a constant feeling of gratitude since as long as we are alive, we always have a list of things for which to be grateful.

[Solomon] was wiser than all men (I Kings 5:11), even wiser than fools (Midrash).

What does the Midrash mean by "wiser than fools"?

A man of means was once a Sabbath guest at the home of the Chofetz Chaim. He insisted upon paying the sage in advance for the Sabbath meals - an insulting demand. To everyone's surprise, the Chofetz Chaim accepted the money.

After the Sabbath the Chofetz Chaim forced the guest to take the money back. He explained, "Had I refused to accept the money before the Sabbath, the thought that he was imposing upon me might have distracted from the man's enjoying the spirit of the Sabbath. Although it was foolish of him to feel this way, I wished to put his mind at rest."

Not everyone thinks wisely all the time. Some people have foolish ideas. Yet if we oppose them, they may feel they have been wronged. Insisting on the logic of our own thinking may not convince them in the least. In such instances, it may require great wisdom to avoid offending someone, yet not submitting to his folly.

By accepting his guest's money, knowing that he would return it to him after the Sabbath, the Chofetz Chaim wisely accommodated this man's whim without compromising on his own principles.

A wise person may be convinced by a logical argument, but outsmarting a fool truly requires genius.

Today I shall...

try to avoid offending people whom I feel to be in the wrong, without in any way compromising myself.

With stories and insights,
Rabbi Twerski's new book Twerski on Machzor makes Rosh Hashanah prayers more meaningful. Click here to order...